Health Care: What does the new health care law mean for me and my family?

The health care overhaul passed by Congress and signed by the President will ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.  It will provide coverage to 32 million more people – or more than 94% of Americans – while lowering health care costs for everyone over the long term.  The new health care law bars insurance companies from discriminating based on pre-existing conditions, health status and gender.  It provides small businesses and working families with tax credits to help purchase insurance.  And it strengthens Medicare and closes the prescription drug “donut hole.”

But many Americans are still wondering -- what does the new health care law mean for me and my family?

To help answer this question in a way that is meaningful to you, the tool below will estimate the impact on your health care coverage, costs, and taxes.  Just fill in a few pieces of information about your income, age, family size and current coverage, and you’ll get an answer about what the new health care law means for you and your family.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at one of my offices:  Washington - (202-225-5126); Detroit – (313-961-5670); Trenton/Downriver – (734-675-4084) 

Fill out the questions below and click the “SUBMIT” button at the bottom to find out what the health care overhaul means for you and your family.

 
  1. Do you have health insurance?
  2. Are you married?
  3. How many people are there in your family?
  4. What is the adjusted gross income for your household? (How much do you pay federal taxes on?)
  5. Are you male or female?
  6. Do you or does someone in your family have a long-term condition or disability?
 
Your Medicaid guaranteed benefits will not be cut. The health care reform law will also help increase access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.
Your Medicare guaranteed benefits will not be cut – in fact, your coverage will expand and improve.
  • Lowering the cost of prescriptions. The health care reform law will close the prescription drug “donut hole” over the next ten years. In the meantime, if you hit the “donut hole” this year, you will receive a $250 rebate. Starting in 2011 until the gap is closed, you’ll receive a 50% discount on prescription drugs and additional assistance on brand-name and generic prescription drugs will phase in until the “donut hole” is closed.
  • Free preventive care. Beginning January 1, 2011, proven preventive services, including an annual wellness visit, will be available with no co-pay charged.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for Medicaid coverage and can enroll beginning in 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also strengthens and improves Medicaid by increasing access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

If you are a legal immigrant, you will be eligible for tax credits starting in 2014 that will help you purchase coverage through a new insurance exchange. If you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for Medicaid coverage and can enroll beginning in 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also strengthens and improves Medicaid by increasing access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

If you are a legal immigrant, you will be eligible for tax credits starting in 2014 that will help you purchase coverage through a new insurance exchange. If you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old.

Your premiums and other costs will not go up because of health care reform.  You can keep your current insurance plan and your doctor.  If the cost of your employer-provided insurance is more than 9.5% of your income, you will be eligible for tax credits that will help you purchase coverage through the new insurance exchange starting in 2014.  There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income. 
Your premiums and other costs will not go up because of health care reform.  You can keep your current insurance plan and your doctor.  If the cost of your employer-provided insurance is more than 9.5% of your income, you will be eligible for tax credits that will help you purchase coverage through the new insurance exchange starting in 2014.  There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income. 
  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.
You will be able to keep the insurance you have now and you will still have the same choice of doctor you have now. Your premiums and other costs will not go up because of health care reform.
You will be able to keep the insurance you have now and you will still have the same choice of doctor you have now. Your premiums and other costs will not go up because of health care reform.
  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for Medicaid coverage and can enroll beginning in 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also strengthens and improves Medicaid by increasing access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

If you are a legal immigrant, you will be eligible for tax credits starting in 2014 that will help you purchase coverage through a new insurance exchange. If you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for Medicaid coverage and can enroll beginning in 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also strengthens and improves Medicaid by increasing access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

If you are a legal immigrant, you will be eligible for tax credits starting in 2014 that will help you purchase coverage through a new insurance exchange. If you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old.

Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it. In fact, you’ll get some additional help paying for premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Starting in 2014, you will be eligible for tax credits that will help you purchase coverage through the new insurance exchange.  There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income. 

Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it. In fact, you’ll get some additional help paying for premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Starting in 2014, you will be eligible for tax credits that will help you purchase coverage through the new insurance exchange.  There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income. 

  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.
Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it. In fact, you will likely pay much less for health insurance than you are paying today. If you buy coverage like you have today on your own, premiums are expected to drop by as much as 20% once health care reform is fully implemented.

For now, nothing will change and you will be able to stay on your COBRA. Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it.

Starting in 2014, the COBRA option will be replaced by the new insurance exchanges. You will get tax credits that will help you purchase individual insurance through the exchange. Based on your income, the tax credits will ensure that you do not spend more than per year on premiums. There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income.

  • Expanded access to Medicaid. Beginning in 2014, you will also be eligible for health care coverage under Medicaid, which will have increased access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

For now, nothing will change and you will be able to stay on your COBRA. Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it.

Starting in 2014, the COBRA option will be replaced by the new insurance exchanges. You will get tax credits that will help you purchase individual insurance through the exchange. Based on your income, the tax credits will ensure that you do not spend more than per year on premiums. There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income.

  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.
  • Expanded access to Medicaid. Beginning in 2014, you will also be eligible for health care coverage under Medicaid, which will have increased access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

For now, nothing will change and you will be able to stay on your COBRA. Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it.

Starting in 2014, the COBRA option will be replaced by the new insurance exchanges. You will get tax credits that will help you purchase individual insurance through the exchange. Based on your income, the tax credits will ensure that you do not spend more than per year on premiums. There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income.

For now, nothing will change and you will be able to stay on your COBRA. Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it.

Starting in 2014, the COBRA option will be replaced by the new insurance exchanges. You will get tax credits that will help you purchase individual insurance through the exchange. Based on your income, the tax credits will ensure that you do not spend more than per year on premiums. There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income.

  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.

For now, nothing will change and you will be able to stay on your COBRA. Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it.

Starting in 2014, the COBRA option will be replaced by the new insurance exchanges. If you purchase coverage through the individual exchange, you will likely pay much less for health insurance than you are paying today. If you buy coverage like you have today on your own, premiums are expected to drop by as much as 20% once health care reform is fully implemented.

For now, nothing will change and you will be able to stay on your COBRA. Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it.

Starting in 2014, the COBRA option will be replaced by the new insurance exchanges. If you purchase coverage through the individual exchange, you will likely pay much less for health insurance than you are paying today. If you buy coverage like you have today on your own, premiums are expected to drop by as much as 20% once health care reform is fully implemented.

  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.
TRICARE/VA. You will be able to keep your current health care and rest assured that the health care reform law will have no negative impacts on your costs or quality of care. Additionally, TRICARE, TRICARE for Life and Veterans’ Health Care all meet the requirement that calls for every American to be insured. You will not have to pay any penalties or enroll in a separate program.

Starting in September of this year, you will be able to go on your parents’ insurance plan and stay there until you turn 26 years old or until you are offered health care insurance by an employer, whichever comes first.

If going on your parents’ plan is not an option for you, you can still buy affordable insurance through the exchanges that will be set up in 2014. The health care reform law will provide substantial assistance to those who still can’t afford it through tax credits and caps on co-pays and deductibles.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for Medicaid coverage and can enroll beginning in 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also strengthens and improves Medicaid by increasing access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

If you are a legal immigrant, you will be eligible for tax credits starting in 2014 that will help you purchase coverage through a new insurance exchange. If you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old.

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will be eligible for Medicaid coverage and can enroll beginning in 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act also strengthens and improves Medicaid by increasing access to primary care physicians and in-home hospice services.

If you are a legal immigrant, you will be eligible for tax credits starting in 2014 that will help you purchase coverage through a new insurance exchange. If you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old.

Starting in 2014, you will get tax credits that will help you purchase coverage through the new insurance exchange. Based on your income, the tax credits will ensure that you do not spend more than per year on premiums. There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income.

  • Taxes. If you choose not to purchase insurance or enroll in Medicaid and your income is above the filing threshold, a penalty will phase in beginning in 2014 at $95 for the year, or 1% of your income, whichever is greater. There will be some exemptions from the penalty, such as for financial hardship, religious objection and incarceration.

Starting in 2014, you will get tax credits that will help you purchase coverage through the new insurance exchange. Based on your income, the tax credits will ensure that you do not spend more than per year on premiums. There will also be a cap on your maximum out-of-pocket costs like co-pays and deductibles based on your income.

  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.
  • Taxes. If you choose not to purchase insurance or enroll in Medicaid and your income is above the filing threshold, a penalty will phase in beginning in 2014 at $95 for the year, or 1% of your income, whichever is greater. There will be some exemptions from the penalty, such as for financial hardship, religious objection and incarceration.

Starting in 2014, you will be able to purchase health insurance through the new exchanges. In fact, you will likely pay much less for health insurance than if you bought it today. Premiums are expected to drop by as much as 20% once health care reform is fully implemented.

  • Taxes. If you choose not to purchase insurance or enroll in Medicaid and your income is above the filing threshold, a penalty will phase in beginning in 2014 at $95 for the year, or 1% of your income, whichever is greater. There will be some exemptions from the penalty, such as for financial hardship, religious objection and incarceration..

Starting in 2014, you will be able to purchase health insurance through the new exchanges. In fact, you will likely pay much less for health insurance than if you bought it today. Premiums are expected to drop by as much as 20% once health care reform is fully implemented.

  • Adult children. Additionally, if you have children, you will be able to keep them on your insurance until they turn 26 years old. If they are 25 or younger now and not currently on your insurance plan, you will be able to re-enroll them during your next open enrollment period after September of this year.
  • Taxes. If you choose not to purchase insurance or enroll in Medicaid and your income is above the filing threshold, a penalty will phase in beginning in 2014 at $95 for the year, or 1% of your income, whichever is greater. There will be some exemptions from the penalty, such as for financial hardship, religious objection and incarceration..
  • Taxes. Your taxes will not go up because of health care reform.
  • Taxes. Beginning in 2013, your payroll taxes for Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) will increase by 0.9% and you will pay a 3.8% tax on unearned or investment income.
  • Gender is no longer a pre-existing condition. Health insurance companies can no longer discriminate against you and charge you higher premiums because you are a woman.
  • No denial of coverage. Health care reform will prohibit insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing condition or disability.

What benefits will I see right away?

  • No drops. Starting in September, health insurance companies will no longer be able to drop you from your plan because you get sick or need coverage.
  • No discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions. Health insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage or charge higher premiums for children with pre-existing conditions or disabilities beginning in September, 2010. (This prohibition will apply to new insurance plans for people of all ages starting in 2014.)
  • Free preventive care. All new private insurance plans will be required to cover preventive services with no co-payments and no deductibles starting in September.
  • No lifetime limits on coverage. Starting in September, insurance companies will not be allowed to put lifetime caps on essential coverage.

What benefits will I see right away?

  • No drops. Starting in September, health insurance companies will no longer be able to drop you from your plan because you get sick or need coverage.
  • No discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions. Health insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage or charge higher premiums for children with pre-existing conditions or disabilities beginning in September, 2010. (This prohibition will apply to new insurance plans for people of all ages starting in 2014.)
  • Free preventive care. All new private insurance plans will be required to cover preventive services with no co-payments and no deductibles starting in September.
  • No lifetime limits on coverage. Starting in September, insurance companies will not be allowed to put lifetime caps on essential coverage.
 
NOTE: Congressman Conyers is providing this information to help his constituents and others better understand how the new health care law will work. He has taken reasonable steps in an effort to ensure that the information presented is accurate and current.
This is not an official legal document, and should not be relied upon as authoritative guidance on which to base decisions regarding health insurance or medical care. Persons seeking such guidance should obtain the services of a qualified professional.

Congressman's Statement and Related Bills